Jannik Sinner won’t get a chance to win his maiden Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award after he was withdrawn this year.
The Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award is presented annually to the best male sportsperson. The first award was given in 2000.
Since then, 25 awards have been presented, with tennis being the most dominant sport. Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are tied as the most successful athletes, each winning the award five times. Djokovic won his fifth award last year.
Rafael Nadal has also won this award twice, and Jannik Sinner could have been the first tennis player outside of the Big Three to win it.
Sinner had a sensational 2024 season, winning eight titles, including two Grand Slams, and posting a 73-6 match record to finish as the World No. 1 player on the ATP Tour.
Given the past successes of tennis players at the Laureus World Sports Awards, it was expected that Sinner would be among the nominees for 2025.
However, just days before the official announcement of the nominees, Sinner was withdrawn from the list of possible nominees.
The nominees for the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards will be announced on March 3rd in Madrid, Spain. The Laureus World Sports Academy Chairman Sean Fitzpatrick released a statement regarding Sinner’s absence.
“Following discussions by the Laureus Academy it has been decided that Jannik Sinner’s Nomination for this year’s Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award is to be withdrawn.”
“We have followed this case, the decisions of the relevant global bodies and – whilst we note the extenuating circumstances involved – feel that the three-month ban renders the nomination ineligible. Jannik and his team have been informed.”
The reason for Sinner’s withdrawal is his three-month suspension due to a positive doping test that occurred during his successful season last year.
Following this positive test, the Laureus Academy likely deemed it inappropriate to include him among the nominees.
In Sinner’s absence, there are numerous potential candidates for the award. Carlos Alcaraz, who won two majors in 2024 but had a less impressive overall season, might be considered, though his inconsistency could affect his nomination chances.
The frontrunner is expected to be Max Verstappen, who had an outstanding season and secured his fourth World Drivers’ Championship with Red Bull Racing.
Other notable athletes such as Armand Duplantis (pole vault), Leon Marchand (swimming), and Vinicius Junior (football) could also be among the nominees.
